Nokia makes US acquisition

This is not something the industry has seen for a long time but Nokia Networks on Friday announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire US-based network integration and deployment specialist SAC Wireless for an undisclosed sum.

Infrastructure contracts in the US are lucrative and SAC claims a national footprint and “proven performance track record working with major telecom operators.”

Ricky Corker, executive vice president of North America for Nokia Networks, said the transaction is intended to help Nokia increase market share in the network implementation space, complementing the vendor’s own in-house expertise.

“Complexities surrounding site acquisition, permitting, sub-contractor availability, and quality often hinder network rollout and time to market. As a result, operators want more direct control over their network deployments,” said Corker.

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SAC Wireless’ resources, including approximately 450 employees, will transfer to Nokia, including businesses such as the SAC Wireless Engine Room, which focuses on managing site development, architectural and engineering, regulatory and compliance activities for national network programs, providing increased quality, scalability and productivity while significantly reducing site development costs; and a unit for indoor and outdoor small cells and distributed antenna systems (DAS), RF engineering and design, construction management and services, Head-End Room development, BTS installation, commissioning, and system testing and optimization.